Post by Michael on Jun 16, 2007 10:37:53 GMT -5
09:00 - 14 June 2007
Echo readers have inundated the paper's website with support for street preacher Roland Parsons.Mr Parsons was turfed off his usual patch in King's Square, Gloucester, by police on Friday.
He has been spreading the gospel from the same site for the past 23 years during his lunch hour but was told to stop last week when he was handing out Christian literature.
The 59-year-old, who lives near Painswick, said: "I was in the city centre reading a passage about Lazarus rising from the dead when an officer asked me to stop preaching the gospel and accused me of not having a licence."
Echo readers have come out in support of Mr Parsons.
Winston Smith, who lives in Longlevens, said: "It's more important we retain free speech than whether or not you agree with Roland Parsons' views. I don't want to live in a police state and it's about time we stood up for free speech and told the politically correct new world order lot where to get off."
Another reader, known as Debbie, said: "What a sad indictment of our society. Free speech and democracy does not only apply to minority groups and unconventional ideas and beliefs.
"Those who believe in Christ have just as much right to simply and gently declare their message as any other group. Whether someone chooses to listen or to take notice is their own choice."
But not everyone agreed. One reader, called Simon, said: "Good riddance. If I want to learn about Christianity I'll go to church. I don't expect to have it forced down my throat when I go to town."
Mr Parsons has vowed to continue.
He said: "The love of God compels me to proclaim and distribute the words of God."
A police spokeswoman said nothing was done to stop him preaching and no further action would be taken.
She said when an officer questioned Mr Parsons about whether he had a licence to distribute pamphlets he "became agitated".
thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232193&contentPK=1 7560319&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
Echo readers have inundated the paper's website with support for street preacher Roland Parsons.Mr Parsons was turfed off his usual patch in King's Square, Gloucester, by police on Friday.
He has been spreading the gospel from the same site for the past 23 years during his lunch hour but was told to stop last week when he was handing out Christian literature.
The 59-year-old, who lives near Painswick, said: "I was in the city centre reading a passage about Lazarus rising from the dead when an officer asked me to stop preaching the gospel and accused me of not having a licence."
Echo readers have come out in support of Mr Parsons.
Winston Smith, who lives in Longlevens, said: "It's more important we retain free speech than whether or not you agree with Roland Parsons' views. I don't want to live in a police state and it's about time we stood up for free speech and told the politically correct new world order lot where to get off."
Another reader, known as Debbie, said: "What a sad indictment of our society. Free speech and democracy does not only apply to minority groups and unconventional ideas and beliefs.
"Those who believe in Christ have just as much right to simply and gently declare their message as any other group. Whether someone chooses to listen or to take notice is their own choice."
But not everyone agreed. One reader, called Simon, said: "Good riddance. If I want to learn about Christianity I'll go to church. I don't expect to have it forced down my throat when I go to town."
Mr Parsons has vowed to continue.
He said: "The love of God compels me to proclaim and distribute the words of God."
A police spokeswoman said nothing was done to stop him preaching and no further action would be taken.
She said when an officer questioned Mr Parsons about whether he had a licence to distribute pamphlets he "became agitated".
thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=231771&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232193&contentPK=1 7560319&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch